Under fire from state legislators, a top higher education official said Tuesday he would not accept a recent pay raise of nearly $49,000 annually.

Michael P. Meotti, executive vice president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education, had been paid $183,339 annually, but he received a raise to $232,244 in June.

On Tuesday board president Robert A. Kennedy, president chairman Lewis J. Robinson issued a statement Tuesday saying that Meotti has decided to forgo that raise in salary.

"We appreciate this action, and have agreed to it," the regents leaders said in a statement. "The Board of Regents will be reviewing all other personnel salary adjustments that were made on the basis of additional duties, responsibilities, and roles assigned resulting from the consolidation."